Tatiana Barry

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Friday, 25 October 2013

Stunning textures, amazing colors, innovative techniques will be presented on coming workshop of talented artist Irit Dulman in the States in January 2014.

Irit Dulman works in her studio in Givatayim,
just outside TLV, but her inspiration seems to lack borders of time and place.
Her colors, textures and designs are sensually bold, seductive, introvert as
well as daring. There is nothing obvious in her work, for it has its own reason
and feminine insight.

Saturday, 28 July 2012

To be
honest, I don’t know where to start my story about Vilte and Irit Dulman International
workshop in Cyprus, the Island of Greek Goddess Aphrodite. It is all over now. I’m
still tired but content, my dreams full of images of the girls and my thoughts
still there, on a beautiful coast of Latchi, in our spacious workshop
room. We only had a few days together,
but it feels like a whole separate life we shared and enjoyed.

This is my second workshop with Vilte and I
hope not the last one. Since April 2011 the program has been expanded
dramatically. It is very original in its simplicity but a lot of new techniques
and texture, tips and tricks had been added. Plus different ways of layouts,
templates and calculations. New unusual silk fibers from remote villages of
India have been introduced and rare wild wool and locks being used during our
lessons.

I attended
both workshops of Vilte and Irit. It was
pity to miss such opportunity, especially if it comes directly on your doorstep.
First part of the day we’ve been working with Vilte, after four o’clock in the
afternoon we continued with Irit. We
have worked many hours, but it was worth it. Every minute of it. Plenty of samples
being made and also two finished garments. A lot of theory written in our
workbooks. All felting and dyeing/printing
materials have been provided by both teachers. I really like the atmosphere of
the classes; we could take a break whenever we wanted and go for a swim or a
cold coffee, no strict rules or limitations. We had a lot of questions and all
of them have been answered in full. Teacher’s patience was endless and kind and
every day of workshops was full of learning.

What I
actually learned from my teachers. I already was working using Vilte’s
technique more than a year. Being a journalist I was also quietly and
attentively observing her work and progress for two years now; published the
article about my first experience and I still don’t know how her mind works.
She is going so fast in her work I don’t think anyone could ever follow. Always
few steps forward with new ideas, techniques and discoveries. Vilte pays
attention to smallest details but at the same time keeps telling us that no strict
rules in felting and no waste in it. If the blouse didn’t came out the way you
wanted you still can change or adjust the design by following its organic shape
for example. I also noticed the way Vilte handles the silks and fibers; with
care but not the fear of damaging it. Her hands movements are strong, fast and
gentle at the same time. She never lost
her patience even being tired. Always calm, friendly and very supportive in any
way possible. Lots of samples being made and two garments during her classes.

I’ve
learned again to work slowly in order to move fast and to concentrate more and
see more. I have to be a friend with my fibers and silks to get desired result;
I have to wait till they start talking to me. I also learned to clear my mind
from any negative or worrying thoughts and concentrate only on the project and
feel free. It wasn’t easy but it worked wonders. Many times during the lessons
I had this sensational feeling of total happiness we all had being kids. She is
an amazing teacher and wonderful human being. Thank you for everything, dear Vilte;
it was such a pleasure to work with you again!

My discoveries with Irit. I always admired
her work and never thought I could really see her in person here, in Cyprus.
When I met Irit at the airport she looked very tired and fragile; only those
famous bright blue eyes were glowing.
While we were driving to our hotel she never missed any tree and I
started learning right there. During her classes the atmosphere was very
relaxed as well and it was a lot o fun working with different fabrics and
plenty of various plant materials. My workbook full of notes now, and I can’t
wait to start working again. Workplace looked like a forest witchcraft nest
with flying on the wind dyed dresses and samples. Local guests and foreigners
were very curious about our work and asked a lot of questions.

Before
the master-class I’ve been running a lot of tests and thought that I know a bit
about the leaves already. Well...Not! The main secret was hidden on a surface and
it was the huge revelation for me. Irit taught us that we have to lose control,
do not expect exact results every time and let the process of printing and
dyeing take care of itself. We also learned that every mistake and every sample
is precious; that is the way how we have to make our own discoveries. She
taught us that every leaf has its own beautiful story and will whisper it
eventually. Only then we could experience the true magic and real colours of
Mother Nature. I got more than I expected
from Irit’s lessons. My dress and wrap came out in a very unpredicted way. I have
so much more interesting patterns, colours and texture which I would never even
dreamed to achieve. And I will definitely use the Eco printing and the new way
of dyeing my dresses. Thank you so much, dear Irit! You shared every piece of
knowledge you have with us and have been such interesting and inspiring teacher
and an exceptional person!

Irit
and Vilte are very different but very similar in a way. They always joined us
for every occasion; we swam, laughed, dinned and even danced together. But when
I was looking at them I understand that they are always so far away, in another
dimension, in their own secret world of mysterious fibers and miraculous
colours. I couldn’t wish for better teachers and I think all our ladies are
feeling the same.

This was a
working holiday for us. Participants
arrived from all over the world – USA, Island, Israel, Norway, the Netherlands,
UK, Portugal, Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Cyprus. Even we all were tired at the end of the day
but we always shared dinner together on cosy restaurant veranda, overlooking
Akamas Bay with its clear waters with the sun slowly going down to a blue silky
haze. At the end of the first workshop we had a girl’s night out together and
painted town red with karaoke’s favourite ‘I will survive’ and danced a lot. We all clicked immediately as if we have
known each other for a very long time. I never forget those amazing stories and
late night conversations of human strength, losses and recoveries. Stories
about how and why each of us started felting and how it helped to move forward
and live a fine life. I’ll treasure them forever. Every time I start to write
this part of my article I can’t hold my tears. So if it was written on paper it
would be soaked wet. But these are happy tears with a little sadness. I was
very lucky to meet all of you and privileged to work and play together. I will
never forget your kindness, support and farewell gifts. What a beautiful souls and
gorgeous Aphrodites you are! One day we’ll meet again, we were here for a
reason. I think we all feel refreshed and may be even re-born again to meet new
life experiences and challenges, to continue our work in a new and fascinating
way.

* Special thanks to Aphrodite
Beach Hotel http://www.aphrodite-beachhotel.com/and Gregoria
(the Owner) and the whole family. Dear Gregoria, we were feeling like at home
and enjoyed every minute of our stay. Thank you for all your care and patience!
We’ll see you again one day!

Sunday, 15 July 2012

I'm shooting off to Vilte and Irit workshop http://viltefelt.blogspot.com/ in four hours. Can't sleep, checking and re-checking if I've collected everything for participants and for myself. Very excited and a bit nervous, this is a first time I'm involved in organisation of such important event.Tomorrow we all meet at the hotel and start setting up workshop place and start early on 17th of July. Wish us good luck, please! I will write about it and publish a lot of pictures after it is finished, so stay tuned! See you soon! Here is my latest work.

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

I was working a lot lately with customer orders due to my cooperation with 'Spotlight' boutique https://www.facebook.com/SpotlightFashion. Great shop, great owner Natalie and great sales manager Tatiana. So really pleased about it. And one of the customer of the boutique just bought 4 of my clothing almost in one week. And he never really mentioned size (only app) or design, just a color. So I almost had a panic attack but everything is sold. Plus two scarfs and one wrap by private order, new long dress for the second day of wedding is almost ready, new wrap is must to be dyed, something special are going to Amsterdam soon and so on and so on. I love my job and I don't asking for any day off, but how are you, lovely creative people relaxing?

Sunday, 12 February 2012

I was very lucky this time with the photographs of my work. My dear friend Ingrid and stunning model agreed to help me and we actually had a lot of fun during the photo shut and after. Some pictures are taken in old Nicosia very near to Green Line which separates our island.

Winter feels cold for us here after 45 C summer; so I was working on some warm wraps. This time I used wool yarn (got plenty and keep buying it), Blue Faced Leicester, 18 mc Merino wool, Gotland locks, viscose fibers and various silks. I don't think I will use Gotland again for wearable's; it is very hairy and needs a lot of work but at the same time its texture is amazing. And I really should stop buying anymore yarn; just can't walk away from pretty texture and colors:))

Friday, 9 December 2011

Just a few images of my white felt makeover. I don't mind this time, it came out rather well and texture looking much better than in a white version of it. And I really started like these warm and earthy colors. Dyeing process still magical procedure to me and it so interesting and educational at the same time. I’m not color blind and could recognize colors but only whites and creams are giving me a lot of calm and eye pleasure, but as they always say that ’ you never say ever ’...

Friday, 2 December 2011

I really like white felt and silks and everything white and off white. I wish I could only work with these kind of materials, but it was never ever popular here, so I've decided to go with the flow and do 'next best thing' and dyed my scarf with eucalyptus bark and carob tree pods extract. Silk Chiffon 8 mm and 18.5 mc Merino. Not entirely happy about it, but I'm trying to look at the situation from a bright side. One scarf is done; another three whites to go soon. May be its some kind of 'white felt discrimination'? : ))) Just joking... Some pics before and after. And I'm not giving up on white felt yet...